Keeper (First Ordinance #2)(42)

"Berel, I don't know whether I'll go or not," I stuttered, shocked by his words. "I mean the Avii will still be here, your father will still be here, the people of Kondar and Yokaru will still be here and the poison will still be here. It is a wondrous gift Reah and Queen Lissa are offering, to take the people of Fyris away to a safer place, but there is so much work to be done here, still."

"I understand that, but my father's scientists have discovered what you already know—that the core is somehow leaking and its energy is feeding the poison. While these findings are preliminary, they worry that Siriaa will die faster because of it. Carrying two hundred thousand people away will be nothing compared to the millions left behind in hopeless circumstances. Already, stored food prices are up, merely based on rumors."

"Tapping the core. Now I understand what he did," I muttered.

"Who?"

"The wizard who killed himself. He was sick and his power was failing, so he tapped the energy of the planet's core to provide power for what he wished to accomplish. In the end, because he faced Reah and Daragar in your father's palace, he could not do what he intended."

"What did he intend?" Berel's voice was sharp and fearful.

"He intended to kill your father and bend Kondar to his will. President Pragg would have died, too, had he known it. Marid of Belancour wanted the whole planet to rule, so he could sell the poison to criminals everywhere. What he didn't realize is that there is no known cure for the poison, once it escapes. I know not how Queen Elabeth kept it from spreading, but she did. That secret died with her, and I have no idea if there is written information anywhere as to how she accomplished that feat."

"So many other worlds are now contaminated with this poison," Berel shook his head. "I don't understand the depth of malice required to do such a thing."

"I believe it came down to jealousy and greed," I shrugged. "I've seen that all my life. I have to go back, now." I stuffed the last bit of sandwich into my mouth and chewed before taking flight to the courtyard below.





Chapter 9

Lironis

"She needs a day off, but that could cause a riot. You should see the looks the rest of us get when patients are brought to us instead of Quin." Ordin rustled his wings in frustration as he stalked past Gurnil—he'd arrived in the suite where their bedrooms were now located, to have a shower and change clothes before going to dinner.

"They should understand that Quin will see the worst off," Gurnil began.

"We've told them that, many times. Still they complain. Is Justis back, yet?"

"He's expected at any time."

"If Jurris keeps him longer than necessary," Ordin huffed. "We need him and his guards to help with the crowds. We have to inform him of the planned move; Reah tells me that she and several Larentii have volunteered to construct schools and other necessary buildings in the section of Harifa Edus they've carved out for the Fyrians. I still don't know what the reaction will be, however, when they're dumped in a strange place with no prior knowledge."

"Take your bath," Gurnil sighed. "We'll discuss this over dinner. Perhaps Justis will arrive in time to join us."

*

Quin

I wobbled into the shower, exhausted. This was my routine, now—work until I was exhausted every day, with barely a few moments to eat a meager midday meal. At least Kaldill's quarters had the shower I'd come to love so much, to wash away the sweat and grime.

My clothing went into a special hamper Kaldill supplied—it had a tightly-closing lid so the smell wouldn't permeate my bathroom until someone could collect it to wash.

A bench had been brought and placed inside the shower; Kaldill had known, somehow, that it provided welcome relief for one who'd stood most of the day to heal the sick.

I wished, too, for a way to give Ordin and the others time off—all were showing signs of wear as they treated an endless line of patients.

Forcing myself to dry off after my shower, I dressed in the first thing I could find in the closet and walked toward the door. Yes, I should have been looking forward instead of down—I stumbled through the door and walked straight into someone.

I shrieked—it startled me so badly.

"Here, now." Hands—and a voice—soothed.

Justis was back. I looked up into his face and burst into tears. I may have wrapped my arms tightly about his waist, too—I don't remember.

*

"Set the trays here," Kaldill instructed softly. I heard his voice—he'd come to our suite shortly after Justis carried me inside, still sniffling like a child. Daragar followed on Kaldill's heels.

Pulling my face away from Justis' black shirt, which was now soaked with my tears, I saw that Kaldill had asked for our dinners to be delivered to the suite. I wanted to hug him for thinking of it—there wasn't any way I wanted to show tearstains to anyone else.

"Overworked," Kaldill said softly, offering a glass of milk to me with a gentle smile.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean for that to happen," I mumbled, accepting the milk. I realized I sat on Justis' lap and felt embarrassed because of it.

"No need," Justis wrapped fingers around my hand that held the glass. "Drink this—you're probably half-starved, on top of everything else."